Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-10-05
THE HAWN

III HAWN BROTHERS.
The Story Of Family Of Women-Hatera
81 Revealed In . Lunacy Suit. s
An important case Of lunacy tried be.
fore Judge Furst in this county not only
has resulted In the acquittai. Of the defend.
ant Peter Hawn. but has revealed i
curious story OF q most singular family.
writes Q Huntingdon, Pa, correspondent
OF the Philadelphia Record. Five miles
south OF this city, in Juniata township, on
the banks OF the historic Roystown branch,
lived 9 family named Hawn, consisting Of
four elderly brothers, d OF whom had
been q maniac from youth. By industry
and most rigid economy they. amassed a
large fortune, which, until recent years,
was principally kept secreted about the
premises. "@e =. %&yE#
~Singularly misanthropic, the Hawns
from their youth objected to any one OF
their number marrying; but one of them,
Michael, regardless of his brothers. views,
married, and, as q consequence, was dis.
Wned and driven away. He took up his
abode q feW miles from his brothers, and.
while the latter were accommodating wealth,
hea managed to gain an uncertain liyeli.
hood for a time, and finally died in abject
poverty.
The Hawn brothers have been favorablv
known for many years as honest, respect.
able farmers, n probably no other men
can be found in the county who have per.
formed as much manual labor. In clear.
ing land or telling heavy timber they would
assume q kneeling position and cut the
trees level with the ground. Their work
was so well arranged that zach knew Just
what was required of him. Until recent
years the household duties were perform.
ed in TURF by the brothers, their dislike
for the opposite sex being so great that for
nearly a generation no woman was known
to enter the house. Owing to their declin-
ing years they were finally compelled to
,r%enounce their edict against the employ
ment OF female help, and reluctantly en-.
gagged q housekeeper. Daniel, Isaac and
Peter were the three brothers left at home
after the Punishment of Michael. The
former who died recently, was eighty-fve
years old, and had been a maniac for sixty
three years. Accessible as the house was
ordinarily to visitors, there was one
apartment in it barred against all corners,
and this was the apartment in which the
old maniac was confined. Not a single
piece OF furniture relieved the monotony
W AAS VA uIAC olA-1t S UuC Ill
ney he would sit year after year. His face
was framed in along, flowing beard, and
the play of his muscles as he wrenched
and tugged at the chain that encircled his
person plainly showed his great physical
power.
h chain was secured to the floor by an
iron staple. Scarcely a ray of sunshine
ever penetrated his gloomy prison. There
was once a small window in his apart
ment, but this was purposely darkened
with boards many years ago to prevent car.
penters who were at work on the house
from peering into his prison. During the
winter months he was protected from the
cold by a small stove incased in the parti-
ton so that the fire could be attended to
without having to enter his room. Sc
cluded from the sight of man and deprived
OF pure air, sunlight and the necessary at
tention his case required, he was left to
grovel in his filthy dungeon until death re-
lieved him.
Several years ago Samuel Rogers, a lad
OF Tend years, was taken into the family,
and last year, upon attaining his majority,
he was presented a valuable farm by Peter
Hawn, the last surviving brother. Action
at law was Immediately instituted by, sew.
eral persons who claimed relationship with
the Hawns and who wanted the old man
adjudged insane because of his generosity.
A long and bitter legal fight ensued, which
has just resulted in the vindication Of the
old mans acts by his being declared sane
and capable of managing his own affairs.
To a reporter he said that the mercenary
motives which prompted the plaintiffs in
the suit have steeled his heart forever
against them, and that he intends having
his lawyer draw up his will, in which he
proposes to bequeath the greater portion
of his property to the widows and homeless
of the community, thus debarring the
claimants to his estate from enjoying a
single penny. The balance of his property
he will give to the young man whom he
raised. He declares his intention of enjoy
ing the little period of life that remains
for him, and jocularly remarked that dur
ing the coming summer he might be found
at one Of the Eastern watering places. The
defeated claimants to his possessions are
wofully detected over the result of the
trial.